"His work is intelligent and visceral, and he understands the craft," says Singleton. "I see an edgy, unapologetic disposition in his work. He deals with things that others are either afraid to deal with or unable to sensitively touch."

"Our ideal budget would be $500,000," says Kush, who hopes to shoot in summer 2015. "But I'm a guerilla filmmaker. I can make shit look good with an iPhone and flashlight if I have to."

Since Nov. 24, his appeal has raised just over $5,300 as of Thursday afternoon.

"We need more stories about women," Kush says. "And I think women want to see more stories about themselves that reflect their intelligence and depth without sacrificing things like sexuality and vulnerability."